Spark of Love

My name is Miki. I’m 17 years old and I live in South Carolina. My family lives in Hawaii. Yeah, I know. It’s a pretty big distance. I was sent away when I was 7 to a distant relative. My parents had died in a car crash.

I have a cousin named Lilo. Her parents-my aunt and uncle- also died, but she had a sister that could take care of her. I think Lilo is a year younger than me.

She used to play with me when I was little, but now that I’ve been away for so long, I wonder if she even remembers me anymore. I remember her. She was the one who always played the best imagination games, and who I stood up for when she was picked on.

Ugh. Speaking of picked on, I wonder if those girls will remember me either? I hope not.

Yes. I’m coming home. My guardians agreed that it was for the best. Translation: you’re getting to be too much for us so we’re sending you away.

So now I’m sitting in a cab, riding on my way to my cousin’s house. The scenery is every bit as beautiful as I remembered it. The lush tropical foliage was everywhere. We passed the ice cream shop. Wait.

What was that? It looked like a little blue animal of some sort. Was it making snow cones? I shook my head, unable to believe my eyes. But now, as I continued to look, I noticed that there was little creatures like that all over the island. At the hair shop, at the beach…everywhere.

Exactly how much changed since I left? Making a split decision, I gave the cabbie a new set of directions. I had to know that it was still there. If it wasn’t, I would be officially heartbroken. I needed to see it for myself.

The cabbie looked at me funny as he pulled up at the address. “You sure this is where you wanna be?”

I nodded. “Yes. Definitely.”

He shrugged. I paid him and set my single bag on the ground. It was a backpack, so I supposed I could have carried it, but it was gonna be a long walk. I looked up with a smile on my face.

The light house was still here.

I yawned and stretched in the lighthouse that had been my home for the last couple of years, since my cousin and his little human friend had found me.

It was comfortable enough, and, more importantly, it was where I belonged.

I sighed. Belonging gets lonely from time to time.

I heard a rumbling noise. I floated up and looked out the window. A taxi pulled up, letting out a single passenger. My curiosity was piqued. Tourist usually traveled in groups, and they didn’t come to the lighthouse with their bags.

The girl looked a little younger than Lilo. She had long raven hair and her skin looked like lilo’s too. She set her bag on the ground. I wondered what she’d planned to do.

Then she looked up. I jolted. I felt she was staring right at me, although she was too far away to be able to see me at all. She started making her way to the lighthouse. I flew down the stairs so I could see her better. I made sure she couldn’t see me.

I heard her whisper something to herself. I barely made it out.

“Just like I remember it…”

I was confused. Who was she? I’d never seen her before. Had she been to the lighthouse before? If she had, it would have had to be before I was here, because I surely didn’t remember her. And if that was the case, why had she left? And why was she back now?

I was ripped from my thoughts as she started climbing the stairs to the light house. I followed her. She slid her fingers along the wall lovingly, as if reliving a memory.

She reached the top and saw the light house bulb. The look on her face was nothing less than euphoric.

“Oh, my gosh! They fixed the lighthouse!” She ran over to the light fixture and I couldn’t help but feel a little smug. I was the reason for that smile.

Well, sorta.

She stepped outside and sat down, dangling her legs over the edge of the lighthouse platform. She looked dreamily over the landscape below her. A single tear ran down her face, but she wiped it away quickly.

She was so focused on the view, and I was looking curiously at her. We didn’t hear the footsteps until they were right behind us. I quickly hid. No need to draw attention to myself.

The girl looked startled. She turned around to face the new group of people. There were three native girls. The leader of the group snarled. “Well, hello Miki. Remember us?”

The girl- Miki-nodded, her face showing a mix of disgust and fear. The other girl smiled evily, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder. “We just wanted to say hello. We heard you were in back in town. I figured you’d be here. You always came here to cry.”

Miki frowned. “That’s not true! This place has a lot of memories for me. You know that, Kara.”

Kara nodded. “Of course. This is where your parents jumped to their death, right?”

Miki lunged at the girl, but was quickly subdued by the other two. They pinned her down on the platform. “That’s a lie! We both know it was your drunken brother’s fault!”

Kara’s eyes narrowed as she loomed over Miki. I felt that something bad was about to happen.

“Miki, spreading rumors like that won’t bring your suicidal parents back. Is that why you came back to the island? So you could follow in their footsteps?”

Miki shook her head. “No, I-“

Kara stepped closer. “I think it is. Beth, Erin? Don’t you think we should help poor little Miki fulfill her deam?”

The two girls holding Miki grinned and nodded evilly. I couldn’t believe what was going on! Were these guys serious?!

In a blink, they lifted a struggling Miki up over the side of the railing. “No! Please! Stop-“

Kara rolled her eyes. “Stop struggling, Miki.” She grinned maliciously. “You could fall…”

Miki gulped as she looked down. “Please…” She said, tears streaming down her face. She grasped the railing for dear life. “Don’t-“

Kara grinned. “Don’t be stupid. Of course we aren’t gonna kill you. Who else would we have fun with? We just came here to welcome you back to the island…and to remind you who’s on top.”

Miki looked at them, still unsure. I felt relief course through me. The three girls stood back as Miki struggled to climb over the railing.

“Then again…” My heart jumped as Beth or Erin- I wasn’t sure which one- surged forward and gave Miki a final push. Kara looked over at her in surprise, fear edging into her voice. “Guys, let’s get out of here…”

They nodded and started running down the stairs. I was surging forward before I realized what I was doing. I scooped Miki out of the air and set her on the grass gently, still holding her. Kara, Beth and Erin were already gone, driving off in the other direction.

I tried to set her down, but something stopped me. She shivered. Finally, one of her eyes opened. I gasped as I saw them. They weren’t brown like was common of Island natives, but a bright ocean blue. They contrasted vastly against her tan skin.

Finally she spoke. “Am I dead?”

I shook my head. “Naga.” Then I remembered to speak English. “No… you alive. Sparky save you.”

She tried to sit up but ended up collapsing back in my arms. “Sparky?” She asked, quite confused.

I nodded. “Ih. Meega Sparky. Safe now.”

She closed her eyes. “Are they-?” I could hear the panic in her voice.

“Naga. They gone. Safe now.”

“T-thank you Sparky.”

I blushed, thankful she couldn’t see it through my yellow fur.

“You welcome.” She sat up.

When she was able to, she looked around at her surroundings. “I can’t believe they actually pushed me.”

I frowned. “No worry. They gone.”

She smiled. “I know. Thanks. My name’s Mika.”

“I know. I heard them say it.”

Realization dawned on her features. “You’re one of them, right? One of the aliens I saw earliar.”

“Ih. Couzzzins.”

She smiled. “I’m here to see my cousin. Her name’s Lilo.”

“Lilo? Lilo and couzzzin!”

So, she was related to Lilo. Maybe that meant I’d see more of her. I mentally shook my head. That was ridiculous.

“You know my cousin?”

I nodded as she sat up more and faced me. I reluctantly let go.

“Lilo and couzzzzin. Couzzzzzin Stitch.”

“Lilo lives with your cousin?”

“Ih. And Nani and David and Jumba and Pleakly…”

She laughed. It was a nice sound.

“I get it.” She looked at me. I didn’t have my antennas out, or my arms or anything else. I looked like a weird animal, though.

“So, why are you here?”

I pointed to the lighthouse. “Lighthouse. Zzzzt.”

She smiled wider. “You power the lighthouse?”

I nodded, proudly. “That’s amazing. I wish I could see that, but I got to find Lilo’s house. Do you know where it is?”

I nodded. I gave her the directions and sadly watched her go. I’d probably never see her again, and she was a nice person…

I tried following the directions Sparky left me, but I failed miserably. I never was one for directions. I ended up having to stop by this huge hotel and ask for directions. There was a boy at the concierge desk who seemed about my age. He had red hair.

“Aloha.” He said cheerfully.

I returned the greeting. “Aloha. I need directions to somewhere. Can you help?”

He grinned at me. “Yep. Name the place. I’m Keone by the way. My dad owns this place.”

I nodded. “Miki. Do you by any chance know a girl named Lilo? I’m trying to find her house, but I got lost.”

Keone nodded. “Sure, Lilo comes by all the time. I’ll draw you a map.”

He took one of the brochures out of the holder and leaned over as he showed me the way. Ugh. I tried to hid my disgust. He smelled like alcohol and cheap aftershave.

“Um… thanks. I gotta go now.”

He grabbed my arm. “Are you sure? I could, drive ya if you want…”

I shook my head and retrieve my arm hastily. “No thanks. I’m fine on my own.”

He grinned at me. “Ok, but come by again to see me soon.”

I rolled my eyes as I turned away. I could feel his eyes on me the whole time. I shivered. What a creep.

I eventually got to Lilo’s house. It was a lot bigger than I’d remembered, with an extension on the roof.

I knocked on the door. A stick thin figure with a bad wig, tacky clothes and one eye opened the door.

“It’s about time my order got here…”

It stopped when it saw me.

“AHHH!” It turned and slammed the door in my face. Hey, I knew my eyes looked weird, but come on… Rude much?

The door reopened and I saw a young girl about my age standing there with a guarded expression on her face. I gasped. “Lilo? Is that you?”

Recognition flashed before her face broke out into a grin. “Miki! What are you doing here? You’ve been gone so long…”

I smiled. “You gonna let me in or do I get to sleep in the hammock tonight?”

Hesitation filled her eyes for a moment. Then she smiled again and motioned me inside. “So much has happened since you left. There’s a new hotel, and I got… a, uh dog.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A dog? Really?”

She nodded nervously. “Yep.” A blue… thing walked up behind her on four legs. It gave out a pathetic bark.

“Miki, meet my… dog- Stitch.” I think that’s when I broke out into hysterical laughter.

Lilo looked concerned. “Miki, are you ok?” I nodded.

“Lilo, I don’t know how stupid you think I am, but that is not a dog.”

She looked at Stitch nervously. “What are you talking about-?”

Suddenly Stitch was right in front of my face, sniffing me. Lilo gasped and tried to pull him back.

“Stitch! Bad dog!” I rolled my eyes as Stitch put up a paw, er, hand in protest.

“Naga! Smell like cousin.”

Lilo looked at me. “You saw one of Stitches cousins? Which one?”

Me and Stitch answered at the same time. “Sparky.”

Lilo smiled. “I shoulda known you would go to the lighthouse first. So, why’re you here?”

I looked down. “My foster parents… they didn’t want me anymore. They thought it’d be best to send me away…”

Lilo looked at me with sympathetic eyes. “I’m sorry Mika…”

I shrugged. “Ah, well. Can’t be helped. So, I was wondering. Could I spend the night here? Just tonight, until I find a place…”

Lilo shook her head and for a second I thought she was going to reject me. “No! You’re Ohana. And Ohana means nobody gets left behind…”

“Or forgotten.” Stitch finished.

I shook my head. “Nah. I think I already got a place. I’ll be fine.” She looked concerned.
“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine.” I was lying through my teeth, but I really didn’t want to impose on Lilo’s family. Plus, I wanted my peace and quiet. Something I was sure I wasn’t gonna find here.

“It’s settled, then. You’ll at least stay the night. Now, lemme introduce you to the rest of the Ohana.”

I nodded. I think this is gonna be a fun place to live…

AN- sorry about spelling and other crap.